Is Honey Better Than Sugar?
The sweet truth: Is honey better than sugar? Made by honey bees using the nectar of flowers, honey is a gorgeous amber fluid that has been used as a natural sweetener for countless centuries. Although honey is considered superior to sugar in terms of its nutritional value, the latter is still consumed over 40 times more.
What’s spectacular about honey is that not only is it sweeter to sugar, it also comprises many trace elements and antioxidants required for the proper functioning of the body. Therefore, it’s more than just a flavoring for your honey cakes and breakfast cereals. Unlike in the case of raw honey, sugarcane undergoes a series of vigorous processing, which eliminates its vitamins, minerals, proteins and organic acids, which …show more content…
1. Rapid energy source Following a nutrient-dense, wholefood diet is vital for increased energy levels, improved metabolism and overall health and wellness. If you’re looking for a quick energy boost, for example, before starting work or a workout, honey may do a much better job than a sugar-laden drink. Firstly, it’s because it contains more calories, with one teaspoon of honey containing 22 calories versus 16 calories per teaspoon sugar. This shouldn’t be worrying for weight-watchers because even though honey has more calories, you’ll actually consume less of it because it’s sweeter and denser than table sugar.
In addition, table sugar is essentially just sucrose – a product of one fructose and one glucose molecule bonded together. Therefore, your body has to use its own enzymes to split the two. In the case of honey, fructose and glucose are already kept separated by an enzyme added by honeybees. Honey is beneficial because it releases fructose gradually into the bloodstream, thus providing sustained energy that lasts for hours [1].
2. Low glycemic …show more content…
The key is to remember that not all honey is going to be the same. While certain honeys may have antibacterial properties and a nutritional value that are a hundred times more pronounced, others may just be clear, sparkling fluids that are just visually pleasing but not strong competitors against sugar due to their lack of nutritional importance. To get the most out of your honey, stick to purchasing the least processed, raw types.
References
1. Nutraceutical values of natural honey and its contribution to human health and wealth. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2012; 9: 61. Published online 2012 Jun 20. doi: 10.1186/1743-7075-9-61
2. Honey - A Novel Antidiabetic Agent Int J Biol Sci. 2012; 8(6): 913–934. Published online 2012 Jul 7. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.3697
3. Effect of Honey, Dextromethorphan, and No Treatment on Nocturnal Cough and Sleep Quality for Coughing Children and Their Parents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(12):1140-1146. doi:10.1001/archpedi.161.12.1140.
4. Birch Pollen Honey for Birch Pollen Allergy – A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2011, 155:160-166
5. Manuka honey inhibits the development of Streptococcus pyogenes biofilms and causes reduced expression of two fibronectin binding proteins. Microbiology, March 2012 158: 781-790, doi:
What’s spectacular about honey is that not only is it sweeter to sugar, it also comprises many trace elements and antioxidants required for the proper functioning of the body. Therefore, it’s more than just a flavoring for your honey cakes and breakfast cereals. Unlike in the case of raw honey, sugarcane undergoes a series of vigorous processing, which eliminates its vitamins, minerals, proteins and organic acids, which …show more content…
1. Rapid energy source Following a nutrient-dense, wholefood diet is vital for increased energy levels, improved metabolism and overall health and wellness. If you’re looking for a quick energy boost, for example, before starting work or a workout, honey may do a much better job than a sugar-laden drink. Firstly, it’s because it contains more calories, with one teaspoon of honey containing 22 calories versus 16 calories per teaspoon sugar. This shouldn’t be worrying for weight-watchers because even though honey has more calories, you’ll actually consume less of it because it’s sweeter and denser than table sugar.
In addition, table sugar is essentially just sucrose – a product of one fructose and one glucose molecule bonded together. Therefore, your body has to use its own enzymes to split the two. In the case of honey, fructose and glucose are already kept separated by an enzyme added by honeybees. Honey is beneficial because it releases fructose gradually into the bloodstream, thus providing sustained energy that lasts for hours [1].
2. Low glycemic …show more content…
The key is to remember that not all honey is going to be the same. While certain honeys may have antibacterial properties and a nutritional value that are a hundred times more pronounced, others may just be clear, sparkling fluids that are just visually pleasing but not strong competitors against sugar due to their lack of nutritional importance. To get the most out of your honey, stick to purchasing the least processed, raw types.
References
1. Nutraceutical values of natural honey and its contribution to human health and wealth. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2012; 9: 61. Published online 2012 Jun 20. doi: 10.1186/1743-7075-9-61
2. Honey - A Novel Antidiabetic Agent Int J Biol Sci. 2012; 8(6): 913–934. Published online 2012 Jul 7. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.3697
3. Effect of Honey, Dextromethorphan, and No Treatment on Nocturnal Cough and Sleep Quality for Coughing Children and Their Parents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(12):1140-1146. doi:10.1001/archpedi.161.12.1140.
4. Birch Pollen Honey for Birch Pollen Allergy – A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2011, 155:160-166
5. Manuka honey inhibits the development of Streptococcus pyogenes biofilms and causes reduced expression of two fibronectin binding proteins. Microbiology, March 2012 158: 781-790, doi: